Workshops

Session 1:

10:30-11:

CED 101:

In this workshop participants will be invited to share notions of community, and what is meant by community economic development as it compares to community development and economic development. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore four CED strategies and tools that are currently being used to achieve positive social, economic and environmental outcomes: living wage campaigns, community benefits agreements, revolving loan funds and social enterprises.

Get Curious! A think tank exploring how municipal governments support Community Economic Development

Building viable communities that have a solid economic foundation is key to creating sustainable places. In order to do development well, and in order to have impact, you need to have an integrated, comprehensive approach. This think tank will explore the overarching problem: how can municipalities support community economic development approaches which cut across social, ecological and economic spheres which municipal operations are generally divided into separate departments. Expect to learn something but don’t expect to be taught anything. This ‘workshop’ will take an inquiry based learning approach building upon each participants knowledge of the subject areas. Workshop hosts will kick start the conversation with plenty of opportunities for participants to join in.

It is recommended that participants who intend to come read these two resources:

1. Andre Isakov Going Localpaper for the Columbia Institute can be accessed here

2. BALTA paper on Municipal Government Support for the Social Economy can be accessed here

A look at the worldwide Transition Town movement: history, philosophical underpinnings and practical manifestations. This workshop will discuss what Village Vancouver is doing locally, imagining our ideal neighbourhoods and what assets we can bring forth to make this happen.

People working in rural areas are often expected to adapt to policies and programs developed in urban centres to meet urban realities. This workshop will examine some innovative, rural specific programs and approaches that address needs of rural communities and rural residents.

This workshop will include an overview of co-ops and why they are a good fit for immigrant groups, examples of 3 immigrant-focused co-ops, breakouts with participants to discuss ideas for applying the co-op model to immigrant communities and resources available for starting co-ops.

CED and Social Enterprise– the emerging issues in Policy, Practice and Research

CEDNet’s National Policy Council has developed a framework to complement the network’s national community’s agenda and British Columbia’s communities and governments continue to develop supportive programs, research and policies to build communities. David LePage, policy council member and enp Program Manager, will lead a discussion of the latest policy framework developments, BALTA social enterprise research, government initiatives, and community models.

We have all had that helpless feeling from trying to explain our work and why it matters to friends, family, and even colleagues while slowly realizing that their eyes are glazing over and we’ve lost them. And yet, unless we are able to explain our systemic analysis of our planet and its people, and our ideas about how to solve the problems, we will not be able to build public support for change. Is it stories of hardship that get people’s attention, is it stories of success that inspire, is it logical exploration of root causes and corresponding solutions that can’t be denied, or is it stats and social return on investment that will convince people? This workshop will go through a series of teaching approaches and engage in a conversation about what works based on our own experiences.